TaDA – Textile and Design Alliance is a cultural promotion programme. Its goal is to promote artistic discussion with the eastern Swiss textile and design culture and thus strengthen the regional identity. A connection to practice and to the textile companies established in the region is a central component and fruitful for both sides. TaDA offers on an annual basis a work stay in Switzerland to six to eight national and international personalities. The residents develop innovative projects in the fields of art, design, architecture, literature, the performing arts or in transdisciplinary contexts. As programme partners textile and design companies in Eastern Switzerland make their know-how and technology available to the artists, thus giving the residents an opportunity to do practical and artistic work and carry out applied research. On their part the partners benefit from the creative exchange with the art practitioners invited. On the occasion of the annual event "TaDA Spinnerei" the work results are presented to the public and discussed.

Each year, six to eight candidates, coming from Switzerland and abroad, have the opportunity to work with textile companies in Eastern Switzerland, use a local studio in Arbon and extend their own individual networks over a period of three months. At the public event “TaDA Spinnerei”, which is also attended by international speakers, they can present their projects to an interested public and at the same time discuss them with experts.

Residency periods are:

– April to June 2024
– September to November 2024

Particularly welcome are cultural practitioners who want to engage with questions related to the future of the textile industry and its sustainability. To take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the companies, basic technical knowledge of textile production is preferred. Projects with a strong experimental orientation are especially encouraged.